The Best Concealers for Darker Skin Tones, According to Makeup Artists

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There’s no denying that the beauty industry, as a whole, has been moving at a glacial pace when it comes to delivering makeup in an authentically versatile range. People of color, and those standing in solidarity with them, have long pushed for more inclusivity. The good news is that things are changing, and a growing number of beauty brands are stepping up. To guide you in your search for brands that offer quality concealers for POC, we asked makeup artists to weigh in on their favorites.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

Every makeup artist we reached out to was quick to name NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, available in 22 shades, as one of the best. “It’s a cult-favorite for obvious reasons,” says makeup artist Uzo Ukaeje. “It’s a super-creamy formula with medium-to-full-coverage that corrects complexion imperfections and can multi-task as highlight or contour.”

Makeup artist Bob Scott adds, “The NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer has been my go-to for a few years now, especially for darker skin tones. They do a great job at creating shades that are true to the skin they are meant to match, as opposed to going down a color wheel and creating a cool or warm version of whichever tone. These concealers truly melt into the skin and give long lasting coverage.”

Lancôme Teint Ultra Wear Camouflage Concealer

Lancome’s Teint Ultra Wear Camouflage Concealer was a recipient of a 2017 Allure Best of Beauty award, so you know it lives up to the hype. It boasts an ultra-pigmented formulation that sits lightly on the skin while providing full coverage. Allure digital designer, Maria Asare-Boadi, writes in a review, “Like many women of color, finding especially pigmented makeup in the right shade (with the right undertones) is extremely difficult. I have very dark skin and this concealer in shade 555 Suede (C) is an unbelievably perfect match for my complexion and for my red undertones. Because of my deep skin tone, I sometimes suffer from hyperpigmentation in certain areas and this product is great at evening out those spots.”

EX1 Invisiwear Liquid Foundation

“EX1 is a British brand and they’re one of my go-to’s,” says makeup artist Vincent Oquendo. “Their Invisiwear Foundation is perfect for the high-yellow girl — the people of color who are paler, but with olive complexions. These people have the hardest time finding products that match — they’re often forgotten about — but EX1 has a really strong range for the medium complexions.” It's available for purchase on their website, and you can also find it at ASOS.

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer

“The Sensual Skin Enhancer by Kevyn Aucoin is a super must-have for my makeup wardrobe,” says makeup artist Porsche Cooper. “Its inclusive color range can suit every skin tone, it has sweat-proof technology, and ensures my clients' under-eye area shows absolutely no sign of fatigue or discoloration.” This concealer, which comes in 16 shades, is the one product Cooper always has in her beauty kit — and she refuses to glam without it. “It can be sheered out with moisturizer for a lighter veil of coverage or applied as-is for maximum coverage. It’s the ‘appearance of sleep’ in a bottle,” she adds. (And if you're in New York City, you can snag a custom shade at Bergdorf Goodman).

Fenty Match Stix Matte Skinstick

Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty lit a fire under the beauty industry’s ass and proved that catering to women of all complexions is not just socially responsible, but financially savvy. Oquendo says that the brand’s Match Stix Matte Skinsticks, available in 20 shades, have earned a place in his arsenal. “It’s a very buttery formulation, and it builds very well,” he said. “I like to use it as both a foundation and concealer.”

NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer

While the NARS Creamy Concealer has reached levels of cult-dom, its matte counterpart offers the same quality and color range for a different finished effect. “NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer is perfect for camouflaging dark spots and areas of darkness that are commonly associated with scarring and hyperpigmentation,” notes Ukaeje. “It comes in several shades designed for darker skin tones that never leave skin looking ashy. I love that this concealer offers high coverage in a super-soft and super-blendable base that is oil-free and leaves skin looking natural and perfected for hours on end.” For best results, Ukaeje says to apply the tiniest amount of product with a concealer brush — after applying foundation — and tap with your fingertip to blend.

Chanel Le Correcteur Longwear Concealer

“Chanel’s Longwear Concealer has a gel-based creamy consistency that glides on like the finest silk on both youthful and mature skin types — no lie,” says Cooper. “Its wand applicator makes it perfect for travel, transitional touchups from day-to-night makeup, and it has sheer-to-buildable medium covering power.”

CoverFX Pressed Mineral Foundation

“CoverFX has several different concealers, but lowkey, my favorite product of theirs is the pressed mineral foundation,” says Scott. “It’s light and buildable, and if you take just one minute to pat a couple of layers of this on a blemish, no one will know that blemish existed. And it’s camera-flash-proof!” CoverFX comes in 40 shades with varying undertones and is infused with kaolin clay to soak up excess oil during the day.

Iman Cosmetics Second to None Cover Cream

The price tag on Iman's Second to None Cover Cream isn't the only thing alluring about it. The brand, founded by Somali-American model Iman, caters to people of color and the concealer was formulated specifically to cover areas of hyperpigmentation. Second to None warms on your fingertips to a soft and pliable consistency, allowing you to build up to your preferred coverage.

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer

“Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage Concealer comes in eight shades and they’re really fabulous. Within each product you get a yellow base and a red base that you can mix to get a better match for your skin tone,” says Oquendo. He added that it has a dryer texture than some concealers, but that isn’t a reason to shy away from it. “Most people, when they’re shopping for foundation and concealer products, they tend to associate something that’s creamy with being luxurious. My opinion is if you have a super luminous base, you want to conceal with something that has a dryer texture, otherwise the two products will slip around.”